Alright, update. I've been doing a great deal of research into anything and everything. Let's go by systems.
Structures:
The blue tube I have has a slight divot at about half way up the tube. I'll be using this tube for the bottom portion of my rocket and will reinforce the body with a coupler placed at the exact same spot. I've ordered the fiberglass I will be using for the rocket fins, 1/8 in thick and solutions are being discussed about a fin jig to get those leading edges nice and chamfered. Still curious about filling the plastic nose cone with expanding foam. From what I've heard thats the ideal thing to do when flying these things at supersonic but haven't really seen it done (granted, haven't searched too hard either yet).
Avionics:
I've decided to go with the Eggtimer TRS GPS Tracker/Flight Computer along with the current PerfectFlite StratologgerCF I already own. Still looking into the best package to purchase for the TRS. Is it worth getting an FCC Technician's License to get the HAM version? Also looking into the option of just purchasing the TRS and utilizing the equipment of the school's Amateur Radio club to help out and offer their equipment and services as a ground station.
I've heard some serious debate on here about redundant systems, but "as for me and my house," we'll use a lot of redundancy. The current plan is to have each system independently powered. I'd love to use a "remove before flight" pin to arm the rocket on the pad but, again, I have no experience with that (my previous rockets used toggle switches--which worked, but is obviously not ideal for reasons I've learned and will not go into right now). If any of you have advice with where to buy a pin removal switch or the best way to make a reliant one, let me know!
I've been working to figure out how best to mount my GoPro Hero5 Session into the body of the rocket and I think I finally have a good working prototype in CAD.
It's still not right where I want it but its pretty close. I'll probably extend my switch band to be a bit thicker and then chamfer the leading and tailing edge of the outer cap to be a bit more aerodynamic. Here's my thought process behind this design. I really wanted to be able to place the camera into the rocket on the launch pad directly. Attached to the AV sled will be this box, built to the parameters of the GoPro. A cut in the coupler and switch band is made to be perfectly aligned with this box when all is put together. Then, the GoPro is inserted from the outside and the cap is placed over the top. Fasteners will be placed in each corner to hold it in place. Again, still working on it but excited for what's to come.
Payload:
Got some great results from the guys at the Compliant Mechanisms Lab here on campus and we've got a prototype of the payload bay running (also in CAD). I can't seem to get the video file up so I'll upload some pictures or figure it out later. But effectively we have a conical shaped bay designed to imitate a reentry capsule and we've installed a door on the side. I know, it sounds boring, but trust me, it looks awesome. We're flirting with the idea of attaching a cylindrical base to the bottom of the capsule that will hold dry ice for in flight cooling. The interior of the whole capsule will be coated with an insulator, currently I'm thinking thinsulate may be the best choice.
I've been giving some consideration into the possibility of testing the forces and impulse on the ice cream sandwich but have had some difficulty in finding an appropriate simulation short of literally launching the rocket. Ideas have ranged from dropping the sandwich off of a building or putting it into a centrifuge but both fall short of accurately measuring the impulse that will be imparted onto the sandwich. The freezing of the ice cream sandwich should make it much more resistant to compressive loading but as to how much, I can't say. Based on simulations, if it can survive the first three seconds, we'll be golden. Plus the dog barf inside the rocket tube should serve as a dampener of sorts.
Thats the majority of the update! Still got a lot more to plan and do. Let me know your thoughts and I'm always open to advice and questions!